Pyro, pits, and pure metal mayhem – Hellsinki Metal Festival Day 1 brings the heat

The first day of Hellsinki Metal Festival kicked off with a lineup that spanned the full spectrum of metal – from old-school doom to raw black metal, from pyro-heavy performances to pure thrash chaos. Despite some unpredictable weather and a few technical issues, the day delivered plenty of highlights for the metal faithful.

I arrived just in time for Warmen to hit the stage, and they wasted no time proving their chops. Blending their own material with a few well-placed Children of Bodom classics, they had the crowd instantly locked in. The performance was tight, sharp, and a strong reminder of why these guys are more than just a COB offshoot – they’ve carved out their own sound, and it works brilliantly live.

Kanonenfieber once again brought a full-scale warzone to the stage, complete with pyro and immersive props. Having seen them earlier this summer at Nummirock, I knew to expect a solid show, but the reception here was even better. The crowd was fully engaged – fists in the air, voices roaring, and energy peaking throughout the set. Easily one of the most hyped crowds of the day.

When the rain began, I decided to choose Night Shall Drape Us instead of Candlemass, expecting a larger audience due to the weather pushing people under cover – but the turnout was surprisingly modest. What they lacked in crowd size, they made up for in atmosphere. Their raw, unfiltered black metal was a welcome tonal shift from the rest of the day’s more polished acts, adding a dark, abrasive edge to the festival’s first day.

I caught only the latter half of Candlemass’ set and instantly wished I’d been there from the start. Their stage looked like a gothic graveyard, complete with crosses and tombstones – the perfect visual match for their old-school doom. Even without the full set experience, it was clear they still hold their crown in the genre.

Forbidden delivered a blast of old-school thrash, tight and relentless. By the second song, pyro effects were already firing, quite literally warming up the crowd. A straightforward but effective set – fast riffs, sharp solos, and plenty of headbanging fuel.

Decapitated drew a healthy crowd, delivering their trademark technical death metal with precision. While their set was solid, I have to admit they felt a bit tighter when I saw them at Nummirock earlier in the summer. Still, they had no trouble getting heads banging and keeping the pit moving.

Pure, unadulterated old-school death metal – that’s what Dismember brought to the table next. The front row was in full frenzy: constant headbanging, screams, and relentless energy. Circle pits erupted at a breakneck pace throughout the set, and the fact that they had a Finnish vocalist added an extra local connection that the crowd clearly appreciated.

Fear Factory was one of my most anticipated acts of the day, having last seen them at Tavastia a few years back. Tony Campos wasn’t on bass this time around – he’s currently touring with Static-X – but Butcher Babies’ bassist Ricky Bonazza stepped in and delivered a rock-solid performance. The whole band was tight, professional, and in sync, with excellent sound mixing throughout. The classics sent the crowd into overdrive, with circle pits opening up within the first few songs. They’re a band I might not spin daily at home, but live – especially with the older material – they absolutely crush it every time.

This was my first time catching Old Man’s Child live – essentially the creative playground of ex-Dimmu Borgir guitarist Galder. With him at the helm, the sound was aggressive, well-executed, and dripping with the kind of dark, melodic edge that begs for a deeper listen. I left their set thinking I should finally give their catalog some proper attention at home.

The undisputed headliner of the day, King Diamond’s arrival was nothing short of theatrical. The stage was an elaborate metal opera in itself, with stunning props and visuals. No photo access this time, but the performance spoke for itself: the band was razor-sharp, and King Diamond’s voice was as chillingly on point as ever. The crowd reaction was electric – it was obvious they’d been waiting all day for this moment. The setlist was pure fan service, covering essentials and deep cuts alike. Unfortunately, the PA system glitched around the fourth song, cutting out intermittently for a few minutes, but even that couldn’t derail the atmosphere too much.

Hellsinki Metal Festival’s opening day offered a well-balanced blend of genres and eras, with standout performances from King Diamond, Fear Factory, and Kanonenfieber. While the weather and some technical gremlins briefly threatened the vibe, the energy never dipped for long. If day one was any indication, the rest of the weekend promises to be equally ferocious.